Some economists have argued that poorly capitalized thrifts are the most aggressive issuers of “underwater” ARMs. The results
using data from the previously named Federal Home Loan Bank Board’s (now Office of Thrift Supervision) Monthly Survey suggest
that, on average, insolvent thrifts do not offer deeper discounts than other thrifts, nor do they charge fewer points or lower
margins. In fact over the “full-sample” 1986–1989, insolvent thrifts offered smaller discounts than solvent thrifts while
charging higher margins and more points. Large discounts on the sampled ARMs were most closely associated with increases in
the 1-year Treasury bill rate, but were also associated with higher origination fees and greater margins. Higher fees and
margins tend to offset the income loss associated with large discounts.
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation